Plot
Lily Owens, a young girl, runs aways from her house to get away from her abusive father in the book The Secret Life of Bees. After leaving her home she is taken in by three sisters who knew her mother when she was young. These sisters help Lily mature and learn what is important in life at a very critical stage in her life.
The Secret Life of Bees deals with the Civil Rights Movement, a period in American history in the 60s that was the start of equality among blacks in America. Throughout the book many incidents occur that would not be legal in today's world. Lily living with three black sisters was made out to be a big deal only because of their race. Also a police officer in the novel tells Lily that she is degrading herself by living with them. At the time, Lily does not understand what he is talking about but soon learns there is a huge struggle for equality. Rosaleen being put in jail for simply spatting on someone's shoe would never happen today. In this book the reader sees the difference in race and attitudes toward diversity that are no longer seen in America.
Lily, becoming aware of what is going on around her, was a big part of the novel. Experiencing her first love with a young black boy helped her realize the struggles black people are faced with in everyday life in the sixties. Zach, her first love, gave her insight on just how badly him and his friends are treated in public. In the period of time this book takes place, relationships between blacks and whites were unheard of. When Lily and Zach realize what they are feeling for each other they simply talk about it. They decide that right now being together would not be a wise choice. Although they are unable to have a realtionship, Lily and Zach's friendship grew stronger and stronger throughout the book.
Setting
Setting is where and when a story takes place. A change in setting can manipulate the other aspects in a story. It is a vital part of any literature.
In The Secret Life of Bees, the setting in South Carolina during the Civil Rights Movement. Tha fact that the novel takes place druning that time is very significant to the plot. One of the first major conflicts in the book is when Rosaleen, Lily's African-American nanny, goes to vote and ends up being arrested. If this had happened in any other time period it would not have mattered. If the story was now there would be no problem with Rosaleen voting. Any time before the Civil Rights Movement Rosaleen would have never even had a chance to vote. If the time the book tooak place would change The Secret Life of Bees would have become a whole different story.
The location of a novel has an affect on the story. In the book after Lily and Rosaleenrun away thay end up living with three African-American sisters August, June, and May Boatwright. It seems strange for a young white girl to be living in a house full of black women for people of the town. When Lily would go with Zach, August's asisstant to town, they get strange looks also. If this book had taken place in a northern state rather the South Carolina it would have most likely seemd more acceptable than in the south.
Even something that seems as trivial as the climate of a book can greatly affects it. In The Secret Life of Bees, at the Boatwright house lily helps out with the beekeeping. It is a small business August keeps going in a shed behind her house. However, August does not keep the bees for money but becuase they are important to her. She thinks of them as a symbol of Mary, or as she and her familly refer to her as Our Lady. August loves and respects the bees very much and they are a theme running through the whole book. If The Secret Life of Bees had taken place in somplace that is very cold all year long the novel would be different. It would be impossible for the bees to survive and they would not be there in the first place.
Setting is a very intergral part of any piece of literature. With a different setting almost no story would be the same as it is. Whitney Alex Jaci Monica
Sue Monk Kidd
Plot
Lily Owens, a young girl, runs aways from her house to get away from her abusive father in the book The Secret Life of Bees. After leaving her home she is taken in by three sisters who knew her mother when she was young. These sisters help Lily mature and learn what is important in life at a very critical stage in her life.
The Secret Life of Bees deals with the Civil Rights Movement, a period in American history in the 60s that was the start of equality among blacks in America. Throughout the book many incidents occur that would not be legal in today's world. Lily living with three black sisters was made out to be a big deal only because of their race. Also a police officer in the novel tells Lily that she is degrading herself by living with them. At the time, Lily does not understand what he is talking about but soon learns there is a huge struggle for equality. Rosaleen being put in jail for simply spatting on someone's shoe would never happen today. In this book the reader sees the difference in race and attitudes toward diversity that are no longer seen in America.
Lily, becoming aware of what is going on around her, was a big part of the novel. Experiencing her first love with a young black boy helped her realize the struggles black people are faced with in everyday life in the sixties. Zach, her first love, gave her insight on just how badly him and his friends are treated in public. In the period of time this book takes place, relationships between blacks and whites were unheard of. When Lily and Zach realize what they are feeling for each other they simply talk about it. They decide that right now being together would not be a wise choice. Although they are unable to have a realtionship, Lily and Zach's friendship grew stronger and stronger throughout the book.
Setting
Setting is where and when a story takes place. A change in setting can manipulate the other aspects in a story. It is a vital part of any literature.
In The Secret Life of Bees, the setting in South Carolina during the Civil Rights Movement. Tha fact that the novel takes place druning that time is very significant to the plot. One of the first major conflicts in the book is when Rosaleen, Lily's African-American nanny, goes to vote and ends up being arrested. If this had happened in any other time period it would not have mattered. If the story was now there would be no problem with Rosaleen voting. Any time before the Civil Rights Movement Rosaleen would have never even had a chance to vote. If the time the book tooak place would change The Secret Life of Bees would have become a whole different story.
The location of a novel has an affect on the story. In the book after Lily and Rosaleenrun away thay end up living with three African-American sisters August, June, and May Boatwright. It seems strange for a young white girl to be living in a house full of black women for people of the town. When Lily would go with Zach, August's asisstant to town, they get strange looks also. If this book had taken place in a northern state rather the South Carolina it would have most likely seemd more acceptable than in the south.
Even something that seems as trivial as the climate of a book can greatly affects it. In The Secret Life of Bees, at the Boatwright house lily helps out with the beekeeping. It is a small business August keeps going in a shed behind her house. However, August does not keep the bees for money but becuase they are important to her. She thinks of them as a symbol of Mary, or as she and her familly refer to her as Our Lady. August loves and respects the bees very much and they are a theme running through the whole book. If The Secret Life of Bees had taken place in somplace that is very cold all year long the novel would be different. It would be impossible for the bees to survive and they would not be there in the first place.
Setting is a very intergral part of any piece of literature. With a different setting almost no story would be the same as it is.
Whitney
Alex
Jaci
Monica